Motherboard with DVI-I port, no video signal?

[jana519]

I got a Via Epia-EX10000EG mini-ITX motherboard off Craigslist that has a DVI-I port on the back. I hooked it up with a DVI-D cable to my Samsung monitor that has a DVI-D connector. When I turn it on, the screen is blank but the motherboard powers on and I hear the fans spinning.

Do you guys think it might not be carrying the video signal because of the DVI-D cable or DVI-D monitor? I've searched Google to find out if the video signal is analog or digital but I can't find any info. I know this motherboard is pretty old, so it's possible that it has an analog signal.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Interesting. Has the CMOS been cleared lately, or the CMOS battery checked and / or replaced?

 

[jana519]

Interesting. Has the CMOS been cleared lately, or the CMOS battery checked and / or replaced?

Tried clearing CMOS, that didn't work unfortunately. I suppose the battery could just be dead. It is a pretty old motherboard, after all. You think maybe the reason it doesn't display is because the battery is bad?

 

[mikeymikec]

DVI-I can carry both DVI-D (digital) and DVI-A (analog) signals. The point of DVI-I is that you can plug a VGA monitor into a DVI-I socket via a simple adapter (or of course use a DVI-D cable and plug it into a standard DVI monitor).

First result I see on Google:
http://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/221/~/difference-between-dvi-i-and-dvi-d

I've had faulty DVI cables before, that may be worth checking? Do you have a CMOS speaker plugged in (or is one integrated into the board)?

I wouldn't expect to see a PC not boot because of a dead clock battery though.

 

[jana519]

DVI-I can carry both DVI-D (digital) and DVI-A (analog) signals. The point of DVI-I is that you can plug a VGA monitor into a DVI-I socket via a simple adapter (or of course use a DVI-D cable and plug it into a standard DVI monitor).

First result I see on Google:
http://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/221/~/difference-between-dvi-i-and-dvi-d

I've had faulty DVI cables before, that may be worth checking? Do you have a CMOS speaker plugged in (or is one integrated into the board)?

I wouldn't expect to see a PC not boot because of a dead clock battery though.

I see, I guess that makes sense. So DVI-I would be to offer support for those people who were still on VGA. Hmmm... In that case buying a true DVI-I cable wouldn't help since my monitor has a DVI-D connector.

I thought my DVI-D cable worked, but now that I think of it I can't recall the last time I actually used it. Maybe the cable itself is bad?

The CMOS battery and DVI-D cable are both pretty cheap so I can get new ones to test and see if that helps.

 

[jana519]

http://www.playtool.com/pages/dvitrouble/dvitrouble.html

One possible problem (in theory): the BIOS is supposed to display at a certain resolution. Since my monitor has a DVI-D connector and the motherboard has DVI-I, it might be the BIOS is trying to display at an analog resolution, but the monitor is only reading a digital signal.

It's also possible that the display driver is confused and has tried to diplay an analog screen mode when you only have a digital cable or vice versa.

I wonder if this motherboard might not work on a monitor with DVI-I connector, or if I had a DVI-I cable with VGA adapter. I'm pretty sure my DVI-D cable is working.

 

[mikeymikec]

There's a slim possibility that the board has a DVI-I connector yet can't supply a digital DVI signal. I doubt it though. Maybe a BIOS update would fix that. Does the board have a PCI/AGP/PCIE socket you could stick a graphics card in (I'm thinking temporarily)?

 

[jana519]

There's a slim possibility that the board has a DVI-I connector yet can't supply a digital DVI signal. I doubt it though. Maybe a BIOS update would fix that. Does the board have a PCI/AGP/PCIE socket you could stick a graphics card in (I'm thinking temporarily)?

It's a strange motherboard. It's made by Via, and it has PCI but the slot is backwards. I'm really not sure what it was originally designed for.

I think there's a chance the DVI-VGA adapter solution will work. Going to keep my fingers crossed.

 

[mikeymikec]

It's a strange motherboard. It's made by Via, and it has PCI but the slot is backwards.

It's definitely a backwards pci slot and not pcie?

 

[jana519]

It's definitely a backwards pci slot and not pcie?

Yep. I haven't a clue what it's used for.

 

[VirtualLarry]

That's a PCI slot. Not backwards. Maybe it looks backwards, compared to a PCI-E slot, I'm not sure what you think that you're seeing.

 

[C1]

Why in the world wouldnt you read the motherboard's user guide?

Specification on Pg 1-3 lists "1 VGA Port" for back panel.

http://cdn.viaembedded.com/eol_products/docs/epia-v/user_manual/epia-v_manual_v1.2.pdf

 

[LTC8K6]

Why in the world wouldnt you read the motherboard's user guide?

Specification on Pg 1-3 lists "1 VGA Port" for back panel.

http://cdn.viaembedded.com/eol_products/docs/epia-v/user_manual/epia-v_manual_v1.2.pdf

There must be other versions because there are plenty of pics of the board with a DVI connector.

http://cdn.viaembedded.com/eol_products/docs/epia-ex/user_manual/UM_EPIA-EX_114.pdf

 

[mikeymikec]

There must be other versions because there are plenty of pics of the board with a DVI connector.

http://cdn.viaembedded.com/eol_products/docs/epia-ex/user_manual/UM_EPIA-EX_114.pdf

Not to mention that C1's user guide shows no DVI connector.

The component/composite video connectors make me wonder though - considering that IIRC those connectors can be used in conjunction with a SCART adapter and be plugged into a normal TV, is there any chance that the OP might get a video signal through plugging in a TV instead?

I'm also concerned that the manual you linked has two jumpers that I'm wondering what the heck they do:

Inverter Selector: IVDD_SEL
IVDD is the VCC selector jumper to determine the input
voltage of the panel inverter for panel’s back-light.

Panel Power Selector: PVDD_SEL
PVDD is the VCC selector jumper to
determine the panel’s signal voltage.

This sounds like a board intended for some kind of proprietary contraption like an old all-in-one PC (but maybe has a standard TV for video output by default), therefore comparing expectations of what one might expect a normal PC board to do might not apply here?

Normally I'd expect a monitor receiving a signal that's outside of its supported range would put up some kind of "out of range" message, but for example I haven't connected my Amiga to many monitors while using incorrect video settings

 

[C1]

Gave you the user guide for the wrong board. Your version is EX10000EG series.

The rear panel video outputs are DVI-I and one S-Video out.

Here is summary of specs:
https://www.cnet.com/products/via-epia-ex10000eg-motherboard-mini-itx-via-c7-cx700m2/specs/

Pages 70 & 71 show more details and specs for that specific board:
http://www.redlinx.co.za/PDF/VIA Embedded Systems and Boards Catalogue.pdf

Yes, and it does look like there are a zillion flavors or variants of that board made available for various developer, commercial and propriatary uses/users.

 

[jana519]

Not to mention that C1's user guide shows no DVI connector.

The component/composite video connectors make me wonder though - considering that IIRC those connectors can be used in conjunction with a SCART adapter and be plugged into a normal TV, is there any chance that the OP might get a video signal through plugging in a TV instead?

I'm also concerned that the manual you linked has two jumpers that I'm wondering what the heck they do:



This sounds like a board intended for some kind of proprietary contraption like an old all-in-one PC (but maybe has a standard TV for video output by default), therefore comparing expectations of what one might expect a normal PC board to do might not apply here?

Normally I'd expect a monitor receiving a signal that's outside of its supported range would put up some kind of "out of range" message, but for example I haven't connected my Amiga to many monitors while using incorrect video settings

@mikeymikec think your guess may prove to be right. I pulled the motherboard from a 1U rack unit that was labeled CieloWorks Cielo Media Client. I tried Googling a bit but I haven't been able to find anything helpful. It seems this motherboard was part of some sort of security setup possibly involved in CCTV. That would explain the component/composite out on the rear of the motherboard. But I am completely mystified as to why it won't show a video signal when connected to a monitor via DVI-D cable.

I have tried the suggestion of @VirtualLarry to replace the 3V CMOS battery, to no avail. Perhaps someone smarter than I am may know what is going on. I'd love to get this little guy working if I could.

 

[mikeymikec]

Can you contact the seller and ask for more information?

 

[jana519]

Can you contact the seller and ask for more information?

Yeah I was planning to, it skipped my mind I guess. I'll contact him and see what info I can find. Will update when I have any new developments. Thanks everyone for the big help!